Thursday, August 26, 2010

Gospel PassageLuke 14:1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of thePharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 7 When henoticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 “Whenyou are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place ofhonor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host;9 and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this personyour place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10 Butwhen you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your hostcomes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in thepresence of all who sit at the table with you. 11 For all who exalt themselves will behumbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12 He said also to theone who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite yourfriends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may inviteyou in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite thepoor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because theycannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Questions for discussion -

1. Jesus says those who humble themselves will be exalted, and those whoexalt themselves will be humbled. In general, do you humble yourself or exaltyourself. Which does Jesus want you to do? What did Jesus do?

2. If we want to be great, Jesus tells us in another part of the Gospel that weneed to fight not over the best seats, but over the “towel” to wash others’ feet.How hard do you work to serve others humbly, so that Jesus might exalt you.

3. Jesus tells us to take care of those who cannot pay us back in this world, to makesure that the good we do for others is out of love for others and not just so that weget something out of it. What types of things can you do to take care of those peoplewho cannot repay you? What will you try to do thisweek?used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Humility is truth. It is recognizing what gifts we have.More importantly, it is recognizing who is the source of thesegifts. God has given us everything; we cannot deny that fact.When someone compliments us, our response could be: “Thankyou,” and then quietly to the Lord: “Thanks be to you, O God.”used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Saturday, August 21, 2010

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIMEJesus offers salvation to all people. It is our belief thatGod offers sufficient grace to everyone to be saved. However,He does not force salvation upon us; we need to respond and toaccept this wondrous gift. The teachings of Jesus are not to betaken cafeteria-style. We cannot pick and choose what we wantto believe. If Jesus said it, we need to accept it!used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Gospel PassageLuke 13:22 Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as hemade his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few besaved?” He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, Itell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the owner of the househas got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at thedoor, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then in reply he will say to you, ‘I do not knowwhere you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank with you,and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I do not know where you comefrom; go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashingof teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in thekingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. 29 Then people will come fromeast and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed,some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Questions for discussion -

1. In response to the question of curiosity about a number to be saved, Jesustells us the way to be saved. What does he say we need to do?

2. Jesus says the way to heaven is a “narrow door” and that we’re called to“strive” or “struggle.” This means that to get into heaven isn’t easy, we have toconquer ourselves and obey God, not just give into whatever we want. Howhard have you been striving to enter this narrow door? Does everyone get to Heaven or only those who obey God? What aboutpeople who make mistakes but are really sorry later and come to ask God toforgive them?

3. Jesus says “some who are last [in this world] will be first and some who arefirst [in this world] will be last.” This means that there will be surprises at thegates of Heaven: some people we don’t think will be in heaven will be there;some who we think will be there, may not be. What can you do to help Jesussave others?used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday, August 15, 2010

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTIONToday, August 15, is the feast of the Assumption ofthe Blessed Virgin Mary. The Assumption means that Mary,at the end of her life here on earth, was “assumed” (takeninto heaven), lest her body undergo corruption. It is apromise of our being taken into heaven at the end of ourlives. Our faith teaches us that the Lord will raise us up andtake us into heaven where we will enjoy eternal life with ourGod, with Mary, and with all the saints and angels.We gather together on this day to give glory to Godas we honor Mary and commemorate her assumption intoheaven.used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Friday, August 13, 2010

Gospel PassageLuke 1:38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with meaccording to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. 39 In those days Maryset out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where sheentered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heardMary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with theHoly Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, andblessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that themother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of yourgreeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believedthat there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” 46 AndMary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now onall generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things forme, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation togeneration. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud inthe thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from theirthrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, andsent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of hismercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to hisdescendants forever.” 56 And Mary remained with her about three months and thenreturned to her home.

Questions for discussion -1. We celebrate today the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Maryinto Heaven. What does this feast mean? Did just Mary’s soul go up to Heaven ORdid her body AND soul go up? Did she go up by her own power or did God takeherup?

2. What is Mary now doing in Heaven? Do you ever pray to Mary? Do you thinkJesus listens to His mother?

3. What do you think will happen to everyone who follows Mary in loving andfollowing her Son Jesus?used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Friday, August 6, 2010

Gospel PassageLuke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you thekingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wearout, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 Forwhere your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 “Be dressed for action and have yourlamps lit; 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet,so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are thoseslaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt andhave them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middleof the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 “But know this: ifthe owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let hishouse be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at anunexpected hour.” 41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” 42And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put incharge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is thatslave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put thatone in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed incoming,’ and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and getdrunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at anhour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what waswanted, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserveda beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much willbe required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

Questions for discussion -

1. Jesus tells us in the Gospel to be ready for Him whenever He comes, whichmight even be today. How can you can get ready for His coming? (Hint: How canyou be helpful to others?)

2. Jesus says “to whom much has been given, much will be required.” Jesushas given you many gifts and talents, especially the gift of faith and thegift of the sacraments. What do you think he wants from you tothank Him for these gifts?

3. Our money on earth is not needed in Heaven. But, to get to Heaven you musthelp others in need on earth first. Are you working for God on earth so you canearn treasures in Heaven? How are you doing this?used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME“For where your treasure is, there also will yourheart be.” The question put to us today is” what is importantand what is our spiritual treasure. If the Lord and eternal lifeare important treasures, then our hearts will be in everythingthat we do. And what we do each day will reflect the Lordand eternal happiness.used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Resources for the Catholic Family

Prayer to the Holy Family

Lord Jesus Christ, who, being made subjectto Mary and Joseph, did consecrate domestic life byYour unspeakable virtues; grant that we, with the assistance of both, may be taught by the example of your Holy Family, and may attain to its everlasing fellowship. Who lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.